Bodyguards and Assassins

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Teddy Chan directs. Arthur Wong Ngok-Tai behind the camera. Comfort Chan scores. Derek Hui Wang-Yu cuts. A commercial under-performer on release. Produced in China, Hong Kong. Dialogue in Mandarin, Cantonese, English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

• 1Earned back only 29% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
• 2Released 17 years ago.
• 3Dialogue crosses 3 languages: Mandarin, Cantonese, English.
• 4International production across 2 countries: China, Hong Kong.
• 5Directed by Teddy Chan, shot by Arthur Wong Ngok-Tai. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
• 6Original score by Comfort Chan. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
• 7Editor Derek Hui Wang-Yu shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
• 8Wang Xueqi and Tony Leung Ka-fai and Hu Jun carry the top of the cast.
• 9Marketing tagline: "To save a nations future, they must protect one man from its past.".
• 10IMDB entry: tt1403130 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
• 11Classified under 10 themes, including "martial arts", "assassination", "sword", "beaten to death".
• 12Released under 18 different titles around the world.

The technical file

Cinematography

Arthur Wong Ngok-Tai

Original score

Comfort Chan

Editing

Derek Hui Wang-Yu

Production design

Kenneth Mak

Costume design

Dora Ng Lei-Lo

Sound

Kinson Tsang King-Cheung

Runtime

139 min · 2h 19m

Aspect ratio (typical)

1.37:1 (Academy)

Status

Released

Budget

$23,000,000

Box office

$6,604,537

Return

29% of budget

Original language

CN

Certification (US)

PG-13

IMDB

Bodyguards and Assassins (2009) ↗

Rotten Tomatoes

50% 🥫 Rotten

IMDB rating

6.8/10 · 8,664 votes

MPAA

Not Rated

Also by

Teddy Chan

• 
  In the Heat of Summer

  1994 · ★ 8.5
• 
  Two of a Kind

  1993 · ★ 8.5
• 
  Pretty Ghost

  1991 · ★ 7.0
• 
  Kung Fu Jungle

  2014 · ★ 6.8
• 
  Wait 'Til You're Older

  2005 · ★ 6.7
• 
  Double World

  2020 · ★ 6.7

Stills · wallpapers

Selected frames

Full-resolution frames — open one to save it as a wallpaper.

Wallpaper Wallpaper

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

• 

  ▶
  Bodyguards and Assassins - Official Trailer 2 - Hong Kong Version

  Trailer

Production companies

Who made it

• 

  China Film Group Corporation

  CN

• 

  Bona Film Group

  CN

• WE

  We Distribution

  HK

Key crew

• ProducerPeter Chan
• ProducerHuang Jianxin
• ProducerJojo Hui Yuet-Chun
• Lighting TechnicianChow Lam
• Sound DesignerKinson Tsang King-Cheung
• Production DesignKenneth Mak
• Costume DesignDora Ng Lei-Lo
• Costume DesignerCindy Cheung Fong-Dai
• EditorDerek Hui Wang-Yu
• EditorWong Hoi
• Associate ProducerRaymond Yip Wai-Man
• Production ManagerMa Zhengqiang
• Lighting TechnicianGuo Zhengjia
• Visual EffectsNg Yuen-Fai
• ChoreographerKenji Tanigaki
• Art DirectionEric Lam Chi-Kiu

Themes & keywords

What it's about, really

• martial arts
• assassination
• sword
• beaten to death
• impalement
• hong kong
• head bashed in
• violent death
• hook
• bloody fight

Release history · US

When it landed

• Theatrical2009-12-18PG-13

Also known as

International titles

• Guarda Costas e AssasinosBR
• Bodyguards & AssassinsFR
• 5 พยัคฆ์พิทักษ์ซุนยัดเซ็นTH
• Bodyguards and AssassinsUS
• 8인 최후의 결사단KR
• Οι φύλακες της επανάστασηςGR
• Oi fylakes tis epanastasisGR
• Testőrök és gyilkosokHU
• Телохранители и убийцыRU
• Suikastçılar Fedailere KarşıTR
• Thập Nguyệt Vi ThànhVN
• Guardaespaldas y asesinosES
• Strażnicy i zabójcyPL
• Sap yueh wai singHK
• 十月围城CN